scholarly journals Post-COVID Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: New Challenge Ahead

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-478
Author(s):  
Adwitiya Ray ◽  
Neharika Saini ◽  
Ravi Parkash
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Exercise Intolerance ◽  
Multiple Systems ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
History Of ◽  
Illness Phase ◽  
Post Infectious

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that causes various respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vascular symptoms. The acute illness phase lasts for about 2-3 weeks. However, there is increasing evidence that a percentage of COVID-19 patients continue to experience long-lasting symptoms characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, myalgia, exercise intolerance, and sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fever, headache, malaise, and vertigo. Similar symptoms are reported by patients who having myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS pathology is not known: it is thought to be multifactorial, resulting from the dysregulation of multiple systems in response to a particular trigger. There is a resemblance between post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and ME/CFS. However, at present, there is inadequate evidence to establish COVID-19 as an infectious trigger for ME/CFS. Further research is required to determine the natural history of this condition, as well as to define risk factors, prevalence, and possible interventional strategies. Keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome, COVID-19, human coronavirus, myalgic encephalomyelitis, post-infectious fatigue, review.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 204993612110093
Author(s):  
Sonia Poenaru ◽  
Sara J. Abdallah ◽  
Vicente Corrales-Medina ◽  
Juthaporn Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Orthostatic Intolerance ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Exercise Intolerance ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Post Infectious

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection which can cause a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vascular symptoms. The acute illness phase generally lasts no more than 2–3 weeks. However, there is increasing evidence that a proportion of COVID-19 patients experience a prolonged convalescence and continue to have symptoms lasting several months after the initial infection. A variety of chronic symptoms have been reported including fatigue, dyspnea, myalgia, exercise intolerance, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fever, headache, malaise, and vertigo. These symptoms are similar to those seen in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic multi-system illness characterized by profound fatigue, sleep disturbances, neurocognitive changes, orthostatic intolerance, and post-exertional malaise. ME/CFS symptoms are exacerbated by exercise or stress and occur in the absence of any significant clinical or laboratory findings. The pathology of ME/CFS is not known: it is thought to be multifactorial, resulting from the dysregulation of multiple systems in response to a particular trigger. Although not exclusively considered a post-infectious entity, ME/CFS has been associated with several infectious agents including Epstein–Barr Virus, Q fever, influenza, and other coronaviruses. There are important similarities between post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and ME/CFS. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish COVID-19 as an infectious trigger for ME/CFS. Further research is required to determine the natural history of this condition, as well as to define risk factors, prevalence, and possible interventional strategies.

scholarly journals Impact of Life Stressors on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms: An Australian Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10614
Author(s):  
Cassandra Balinas ◽  
Natalie Eaton-Fitch ◽  
Rebekah Maksoud ◽  
Donald Staines ◽  
Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Orthostatic Intolerance ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Life Stressors ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome

(1) Background: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multifaceted illness. The pathomechanism, severity and progression of this illness is still being investigated. Stressors have been implicated in symptom exacerbation for ME/CFS, however, there is limited information for an Australian ME/CFS cohort. The aim of this study was to assess the potential effect of life stressors including changes in work, income, or family scenario on symptom severity in an Australian ME/CFS cohort over five months; (2) Methods: Australian residents with ME/CFS responded to questions relating to work, income, living arrangement, access to healthcare and support services as well as symptoms experienced; (3) Results: thirty-six ME/CFS patients (age: 41.25 ± 12.14) completed all questionnaires (response rate 83.7%). Muscle pain and weakness, orthostatic intolerance and intolerance to extreme temperatures were experienced and fluctuated over time. Sleep disturbances were likely to present as severe. Work and household income were associated with worsened cognitive, gastrointestinal, body pain and sleep symptoms. Increased access to healthcare services was associated with improved symptom presentation; (4) Conclusions: life stressors such as work and financial disruptions may significantly contribute to exacerbation of ME/CFS symptoms. Access to support services correlates with lower symptom scores.

scholarly journals Effect of Melatonin Plus Zinc Supplementation on Fatigue Perception in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Castro-Marrero ◽  
Maria-Cleofé Zaragozá ◽  
Irene López-Vílchez ◽  
José Luis Galmés ◽  
Joan Carles Domingo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Zinc Supplementation ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multisystem, and profoundly debilitating condition, probably of multifactorial etiology. No effective approved drugs are currently available for its treatment. Several studies have proposed symptomatic treatment with melatonin and zinc supplementation in chronic illnesses; however, little is known about the synergistic effect of this treatment on fatigue-related symptoms in ME/CFS. The primary endpoint of the study was to assess the effect of oral melatonin plus zinc supplementation on fatigue in ME/CFS. Secondary measures included participants’ sleep disturbances, anxiety/depression, and health-related quality of life. A proof-of-concept, 16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted in 50 ME/CFS patients assigned to receive either oral melatonin (1 mg) plus zinc (10 mg) supplementation (n = 24) or matching placebo (n = 26) once daily. Endpoint outcomes were evaluated at baseline and then reassessed at 8 and 16 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks after treatment cessation, using self-reported outcome measures. Treatment was safe and well-tolerated. The most relevant results were the significant reduction in the perception of physical fatigue in the active group at the final follow-up versus placebo (p < 0.05), and the significant improvement in the physical component summary at all follow-up visits in the experimental group. Our findings suggest that oral melatonin plus zinc supplementation for 16 weeks is safe and potentially effective in reducing fatigue and improving the quality of life in ME/CFS. This clinical study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03000777).

scholarly journals How Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Progresses: The Natural History of ME/CFS

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Nacul ◽  
Shennae O'Boyle ◽  
Luigi Palla ◽  
Flavio E. Nacul ◽  
Kathleen Mudie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus J. Wirth ◽  
Carmen Scheibenbogen ◽  
Friedemann Paul
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Cerebral Hypoperfusion ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Blood Flow Increase

AbstractThere is accumulating evidence of endothelial dysfunction, muscle and cerebral hypoperfusion in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). In this paper we deduce the pathomechanisms resulting in central nervous pathology and the myriad of neurocognitive symptoms. We outline tentative mechanisms of impaired cerebral blood flow, increase in intracranial pressure and central adrenergic hyperactivity and how they can well explain the key symptoms of cognitive impairment, brain fog, headache, hypersensitivity, sleep disturbances and dysautonomia.

scholarly journals Cardiac Dimensions and Function are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
Per Ole Iversen ◽  
Thomas Gero von Lueder ◽  
Kristin Reimers Kardel ◽  
Katarina Lien
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Lactate Production ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Tissue Doppler ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Exercise Intolerance ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
And Function

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition associated with several negative health outcomes. A hallmark of ME/CFS is decreased exercise capacity and often profound exercise intolerance. The causes of ME/CSF and its related symptoms are unknown, but there are indications of a dysregulated metabolism with impaired glycolytic vs oxidative energy balance. In line with this, we recently demonstrated abnormal lactate accumulation among ME/CFS patients compared with healthy controls after exercise testing. Here we examined if cardiac dimensions and function were altered in ME/CFS, as this could lead to increased lactate production. Methods: We studied 16 female ME/CFS patients and 10 healthy controls with supine transthoracic echocardiography, and we assessed cardiac dimensions and function by conventional echocardiographic and Doppler analysis as well as novel tissue Doppler and strain variables. Results: A detailed analyses of key variables of cardiac dimensions and cardiac function revealed no significant differences between the two study groups. Conclusion: In this cohort of well-described ME/CFS patients, we found no significant differences in echocardiographic variables characterizing cardiac dimensions and function compared with healthy controls.

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